DENT AND SHARPE GRIEVANCES NOT TYPICAL 'FEATHER IN CAP'

The 49ers had hoped to have their grievance situation with
Richard Dent resolved by Friday, but Dent has "protested league
actions" and it is unclear when the club's salary cap picture
will be clear, according to today's SAN JOSE MERCURY NEWS. 49ers
VP Dwight Clark: "I thought this would be over by now. It's
starting to make me a little nervous about whether we'll get the
cap money back. If not, we've got to start making more
adjustments." With no hearing scheduled and no arbitrator
selected, the league is unclear as to if this is an injury or
non-injury grievance. Grady Irvin, Dent's attorney and a former
NFLPA counsel: "It's our contention his due-process rights were
violated. If Richard loses an injury grievance, fine, but this
is an injury grievance" (Clark Judge, S.J. MERCURY NEWS, 5/11).
THE SHARPE CASE: In Milwaukee, Orlando Ledbetter analyzes
Sterling Sharpe's lawsuit against the Packers, the NFL Management
Council and the NFLPA. Ledbetter also notes the significance of
the suit in terms of the Packers' salary cap. Packers CFO Mike
Reinfeldt: "I think it's a little bit different now because of
the potential of certain grievances to count against the cap.
There is more motivation for clubs to settle. Some procedures
are expedited. In my particular case it took two and a half
years before it was finally resolved. I think that's wrong."
James Gray, Assistant Dir of Marquette Univ.'s National Sports
Law Institute: "It seems to me that the key to this dispute is
whether or not this is an injury grievance or a non-injury
grievance. Sharpe is alleging that the Green Bay Packers, the
management council and the NFLPA did not follow the rules as
contained in the [CBA]" (MILWAUKEE JOURNAL-SENTINEL, 5/10).
Grady Irvin also represents Sharpe.